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less

Pronunciation: (les),[key]—adv.,a compar. oflittle with leastas superl.1. to a smaller extent, amount, or degree: less exact.2. most certainly not (often prec. by much or still): He could barely pay for his own lodging, much less for that of his friend.3. in any way different; other: He is nothing less than a thief.4. less than, by far short of being; not in the least; hardly at all: The job is less than perfect.

—adj.,a compar. oflittle with leastas superl.1. smaller in size, amount, degree, etc.; not so large, great, or much: less money; less speed.2. lower in consideration, rank, or importance: no less a person than the manager.3. fewer: less than a dozen.

—n.1. a smaller amount or quantity: Hundreds of soldiers arrived, but less of them remained.2. something inferior or not as important: He was tortured for less.

—prep.minus; without: a year less two days; six dollars less tax.

-less

an adjective suffix meaning “without” (childless; peerless), and in adjectives derived from verbs, indicating failure or inability to perform or be performed (resistless; tireless).